Justin Thomas' drive has been measured at a ridiculous 367 yards.

Less than 200 to the pin, on a par five.

Madness.

Sand trouble on the par-five 12th for Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton as they both skew either side of the fairway into each of the bunkers.

Justin Thomas follows them with a booming drive that skips off the hill and just keeps rolling. He's in fine shape.

It's narrow down there and Jordan Spieth's ball bounces into the rough but both are further along than their opponents.

It's back-to-back holes for the USA to level the match on the 10th, but this one will hurt Europe more than the last as both Jon Rahm and Nicolai Hojgaard make bogey to lose it to par.

It's bad enough doing that in foursomes, it's criminal in fourballs.

Graeme Storm
Two-time European Tour winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

For the first time today we can feel that the screw is being turned by the US team.

They have taken good control of this game and as they go into the back nine two up, they will be favourites.

Hang on, Wyndham Clark has other ideas on the ninth green.

The American is putting for an eagle and you have to say it's a tremendous effort.

The line is wonderful and the length not bad.

You feel Bob MacIntyre must nail his birdie putt... but he doesn't.

US Open champion Clark drops his effort south and an American pair leads by two holes for the first time today.

Oof, fine effort from Viktor Hovland as his long putt looks good but skips a few feet past. Not a gimme yet.

Nay bother as Tyrrell Hatton drains his birdie from 10 feet.

That ramps the pressure up on Jordan Spieth who needs to sink from four feet to stay level.

He confidently strokes home. We go on.

European pair Robert MacIntyre and Justin are chasing the scoreboard but they're playing well and you've got to think the chances will keep coming.

Right on cue, here's another half opportunity for Bobby Mac.

The 27-year-old leftie - the first Scot playing in the Ryder Cup since 2014 remember - knocks a pinpoint approach to within about 15 feet of the ninth flag.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

Image source, BBC Sport

Appeals for quiet from the crowd have been well observed but there are several holes on the course where that is barely possible due to the noise from giant screens or piazza’s set up around the Marco Simone.

The ninth falls slightly into that category given it’s a thoroughfare past the first and back towards the Ryder Cup village.

Another chance for Jordan Spieth to flex his short-game muscles as he clips in from 19 yards and the ball bounces off the flag.

Should be a simple birdie for the Texan.

Viktor Hovland drove his tee shot bullet straight to the green and has an eagle chance from 53 feet.

Collin Morikawa makes a par to halve the hole with Matt Fitzpatrick and that must be a welcome relief after that six-hole blitz from this red-hot European pair.

For the first time since the first hole the Americans did not lose the hole - that says it all about how well Fitzpatrick in particular has played.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

“C’mon Scottie, c’mon Scottie” encourages the world number one’s dad as the American walks up the stairs to take the bridge towards the 10th tee

Scottie impulsively tips his cap to the voice before realising it’s Papa Scheff and then gives a little smile.

Scottie Scheffler finally finds something on the ninth to make a birdie to pick up the hole and reduced the deficit to just one hole at the turn.

This will be an interesting one over the back nine.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Rome

Image source, BBC Sport

Martin from Nottingham is one of around 1,600 volunteers at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club this weekend.

He is over in Rome with his wife Helen and is attending his third Ryder Cup after getting to Le Golf National in Paris five years ago and Celtic Manor in 2010.

Speaking to him yesterday, he told me that Rory McIlroy had lost a ball in the rough in practice despite seeing pretty much where it landed but had celebrated wildly after flopping in a chip over the right-hand bunker on the eighth.

Most of the 55,000 crowd here today would love him to do the same over the next few minutes.

Image source, PA Media

It's not gone to plan yet for US captain Zach Johnson.

Tidy effort from Viktor Hovland from off the green but it doesn't quite drop for him.

These putts seem to be falling to Justin Thomas for the Americans and he enlists Jordan Spieth to help him read the green.

Twenty feet and plenty of movement as he takes aim. Grazes the hole but it doesn't go in.

Halved.

Image source, Reuters

"No Serb has ever played in the Ryder Cup? Hmmm."

Novak Djokovic looked to have a decent swing but think creating that piece of history would even be beyond the record-breaking 24-time tennis major champion.

The 36-year-old Serb played in the celebrity event in Rome earlier this week, driving the green on the par-four 16th, and looks to be enjoying himself among the crowds today.

Djokovic had the camera out as the fans around him sang 'Nole, Nole, Noleeee'.

Oh, it was 'Ole'? Either way he was enjoying the racquet being created...

Image source, Getty Images

Blimey! Somebody has upgraded Max Homa's putter to one which has a sat nav built in.

He's finding his range now.

The American sinks a 30-plus foot putt for par on the eighth, this could be another chance for the visiting pair to extend their lead.

Hold my beer, says Justin Rose.

He's much further inside from a a similar angle and drops his putt for the half.

The 10th flag is pinned in the back-right corner of the green and Viktor Hovland looks unsettled as he takes aim.

He's a touch long, dropping into the rough. He's followed in by Justin Thomas who twirls the cup in appreciation. Well he might like it - it'll be 20 feet for birdie.

Tyrrell Hatton joins him, but he's another 30 feet further away than Thomas.

Robert MacIntyre knows his way around Marco Simone having won the Italian Open here in 2022.

The Scot has demonstrated his knowledge and confidence so far, earning another birdie chance on the par-four eighth.

This to win the hole and quickly wipe out that American advantage... but he's lagged it.

A long quizzical look follows.